[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18532-18533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10083]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD08-96-003]
RIN 2115-AE47
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lower Grand River, LA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: At the request of the Iberville Parish School Board, the Coast
Guard is considering a change to the regulation governing the operation
of the pontoon drawbridge on LA State Road 77 across the Lower Grand
River (Intracoastal Waterway, Morgan City to Port Allen, Alternate
Route), mile 47.0 at Grosse Tete, Iberville Parish, Louisiana:
The proposed regulation would require that the bridge open on
signal; except that from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, other than Federal holidays, and only
during the months when local schools are in session, the bridge would
be permitted to remain closed to navigation for the uninterrupted
crossing of school bus and other vehicular traffic.
Presently, the draw of the bridge is required to open on signal,
except that from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, other than Federal holidays, and only during the
months when local schools are in session, the bridge need not open for
navigation.
This action would extend the closure time in the morning and
afternoon by one-half hour to accommodate school buses which must
adhere to schedules based on new staggered starting times for the
Iberville Parish Schools. This action would benefit school children in
their timely arrival at school, while still providing for the
reasonable needs of navigation.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 25, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Commander (ob), Eighth Coast
Guard District, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-3396,
or
[[Page 18533]]
may be delivered to Room 1313 at the same address between 8:00 a.m. and
3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The
telephone number is (504) 589-2965.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Phil Johnson, Bridge
Administration Branch, at the address given above, telephone (504) 589-
2965.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
Interested parties are invited to participate in the proposed
rulemaking by submitting written views, comments, or arguments. Persons
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify
the bridge and give reasons for concurrence with or any recommended
change in this proposal. Persons desiring acknowledgment that their
comments have been received should enclose a stamped, self-addressed
postcard or envelope.
The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a
public hearing by writing to the Eighth Coast Guard District at the
address under ADDRESSES. The request should include reasons why a
hearing would be beneficial. If it is determined that the opportunity
for oral presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will
hold a public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice
in the Federal Register.
The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, will evaluate all
communications received and determine a course of final action on this
proposal. The proposed regulation may be changed in the light of
comments received.
Background and Purpose
The Iberville Parish School Board has requested the regulation
because a new, staggered starting time has been implemented for the
schools in the Parish. The extension of the morning and afternoon
closure for the LA 77 bridge will assist school buses in transporting
the students to and from their classes in a timely manner. The new
proposed regulation would allow for the free flow of vehicular traffic,
while still serving the reasonable needs of navigational interests.
Discussion of Proposed Rules
The LA 77 bridge is a pontoon bridge. Navigational clearances
provided by the bridge are 2.0 feet vertical above mean high water in
the closed to navigation position and unlimited vertical clearance in
the open to navigation position. Horizontal clearance is 125.0 feet.
Navigation on the waterway consists of tugs with tows, commercial
fishing vessels, occasional small oil field work boats and recreational
craft. Data obtained from the Louisiana Department of Transportation
and Development show that, during a six month period ending late in
August 1995, the number of vessels that passed the bridge during the
proposed extended half-hour closure (7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., Monday
through Friday) totaled 242. This breaks down to about 1.3 vessels per
day during this half-hour period. Since this count includes vessels
that were waiting because of the already in effect one and one-half
hour closure, 1.3 vessels are a very minimal amount of traffic being
detained. The Coast Guard feels that this request for a one-half hour
extension is reasonable.
Regulatory Evaluation
This proposal is not a significant regulatory action under section
3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of
potential cost and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that order. It has
not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under that
order. It is not significant under the regulatory policies and
procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040;
February 26, 1979).
The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this proposal to be
so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the
regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal, if adopted, will have
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. ``Small entities'' may include (1) small businesses and not-
for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and
are not dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions
with populations of less than 50,000.
Since the proposed rule also considers the needs of local
commercial fishing vessels, the economic impact is expected to be
minimal. Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b)
that this proposal, if adopted, will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. If, however, you
think that your business or organization qualifies as a small entity
and that this rule will have a significant economic impact on your
business or organization, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES)
explaining why you think it qualifies and in what way and to what
degree this rule will economically effect it.
Collection of Information
This proposal contains no collection-of-information requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Federalism Implications
This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined
that the proposed rulemaking does not have sufficient federalism
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Environment
The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this
proposal and concluded that under paragraph 2.B.2. of Commandant
Instruction M16475.1B, this proposal is categorically excluded from
further environmental documentation. A ``Categorical Exclusion
Determination'' is available in the docket for inspection or copying
where indicated under addresses.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
Bridges.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes
to amend Part 117 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:
PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS
1. The authority citation for Part 117 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g).
2. In section 117.478, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 117.478 Lower Grand River.
* * * * *
(b) The draw of the LA 77 bridge, mile 47.0 (Alternate Route) at
Grosse Tete, shall open on signal; except that, from about August 15 to
about June 5 (the school year), the draw need not be opened from 6 a.m.
to 8 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except
Federal holidays. The draw shall open on signal at any time for an
emergency aboard a vessel.
* * * * *
Dated: February 14, 1996.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-10083 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
